Greylock Federal awards $100K in Special Gifts To Nonprofits

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(left to right) Johno Hinkell, Vice President, Market Manager at Greylock; Amy Hall, President and CEO and Billie Jo Sawyer, CFO of Child Care of the Berkshires; and Jamie Moncecchi, Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer at Greylock.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. Greylock Federal Credit Union is awarding 10 nonprofits with special gifts of $10,000 each totaling a $100,000 contribution to the nonprofit sector.
 
The recipients include: Elder Services of Berkshire County, Louison House, Childcare of the Berkshires, Volunteers in Medicine Berkshires (VIM), Arts in Recovery for Youth (AIRY), Soldier On, Greater Hudson Promise Neighborhood, Our Community Table, UCP of Western Massachusetts and Berkshire Pride.
 
"At Greylock we know that the challenges and opportunities that we face are larger than we can tackle on our own, and we are grateful to have wonderful partners," said John Bissell, President and CEO of Greylock. "Together we can nurture the health of our local economy and community – that's what it means to be financially inclusive. We invest in these partner organizations so they can do their work investing in the people of our community."
 
Greylock's leadership recognized the importance of awarding funds to organizations dedicated to providing human services.
 
"We know that this year and next will be extremely challenging for nonprofits," said Jamie Moncecchi, Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer. "We know that this award will be put to good use, providing essential resources, care, and support for the well-being of our community."
 
Ilana Steinhauer, executive director of VIM, acknowledged current challenges.
 
"This generous support from Greylock comes at a critical moment. It allows us to respond to emerging needs and ensure that patients who might otherwise fall through the cracks can continue to access high-quality care," said Steinhauer. "Greylock has been an important partner in strengthening the health of our community, and this gift reflects a shared commitment to care without compromise."
 
Each year Greylock Federal gives charitable contributions to more than 300 501(c)3 nonprofits that apply for grants and sponsorships annually.
 
"We are so thankful for all our nonprofits in our community. We know the needs are growing rapidly," said Jennifer Connor Shumsky, Assistant Vice President, Community Support & Events. "To have more funding to disperse is fantastic! I am so grateful that we've been able to give an additional gift to help our local economy."
 
Amy Hall, president and CEO of Child Care of the Berkshires, was delighted to receive the unexpected gift from Greylock.
 
"What a wonderful surprise! This support will make a meaningful difference in our ability to serve and strengthen families through our Family Center program. Thank you," said Hall. 
 
According to a press release, investing in community partnerships aligns closely with Greylock's vision to be "the face of financial inclusion for the communities we serve," and its values to care, educate and inspire.
 
"I am so proud of the work we do here at Greylock," said Moncecchi. "Supporting these vital organizations is key to supporting the Berkshires. Whether it's AIRY helping youth at risk of suicide or Elder Services making sure our seniors have a hot meal each day or VIM caring for our immigrant neighbors, we believe strongly in giving back. This is one of the most powerful ways that Greylock can help the people of our community."

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BCC Sees Another $1M for New Trades Program

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College was allocated more than $1 million from the state for an HVAC and heat pump trades program.

This will help BCC renovate an existing space into a lab and classroom, with the hope of welcoming the program’s first students in early 2027. Executive Director of Workforce and Community Education Linda Clairmont said there is "clearly" an interest, a lot of momentum, and demand for the skilled trades.

"We are beyond excited about this opportunity, not only for the college, but for the region, to be able to create a skilled trades program for adults, and it's a complement to what is already happening at the college," she said. 

The $1,188,635 award was announced on Tuesday as part of $13.4 million to 13 state community colleges through the Mass Clean Energy Center’s new Heat Pump and HVAC Training Network.  Between state and federal funding, the college has recently been allocated more than $2 million to diversify its educational offerings. 

Earlier this month, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal visited the college to highlight the $995,000 he secured through congressionally directed spending for a Trades Academy

The nearly $1.2 million in state funds will support a renovation on the first floor of the field administration building for an HVAC heat pump and lab classroom, along with two cohorts of ten students. 

"We have made a lot of progress," Clairmont reported. 

"We've identified a location, right on campus. We are working with architects and engineers right now to design the space, along with some expertise in what is state-of-the-art for HVAC training in real-world environments." 

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